Pictured above is Junior Bailey, Mitch Grant, Garnett Hendron, Paul Ozier, Harold Shroyer, John Foster and George Donaldson. The year that this photo was taken is unknown. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.
•March 15, 2023•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
My wife spends her slumbers dreaming up ways to solve complex problems.
I merely dream up situations from which I cannot extricate myself and ridiculous scenarios involving work.
We both wake up exhausted, but at least her dreams are productive. Her sleep-borne solutions actually work in waking life.
She woke the other day and ask me whether she “dreamed” something or “dreamt” it.
She also wanted to know whether it was better to say someone “leaped” or “leapt.”
Those who watch a lot of BBC mysteries on Acorn likely prefer “dreamt” and “leapt,” because they are chiefly British irregular verb forms. Read More
25 Years Ago This Week
Lois Shuman, a kindergarten teacher in Sullivan, was named Teacher of Excellence by the Sullivan Community Education Foundation at its annual Teacher Recognition Banquet. The award included a $1,000 honorarium from the Foundation which Shuman could use for classroom materials. Major and mini grants were also awarded during the program.
The congregation of the Faith Lutheran Church in Sullivan gathered to recognize the Rev. Paul McGhghy for his 30 years in the ministry. He served the local church for 13 of those years. Read More
•March 15, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
The Moultrie County Board heard from County Treasurer Stephanie Helmuth that the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) ad hoc committee has not been meeting because they have deployed most of the funds. There are two items still in progress. One is a maintenance project and the other an ongoing animal control project. Helmuth stated that the interest earned on the ARPA funds is general fund revenue which will be transferred to that fund and is just under $14,000. She said there are $194,000 of the ARPA funds still in their possession which account for the remaining animal control project and the Stanley jail lock project.
Helmuth noted that there would be a final ARPA meeting when all the funds are fully exhausted which could be another six to nine months.
Also approved was the updated Moultrie County Employee Handbook. Michelle Liddiard said it was proposed to update the personal days from two days to five days to come into compliance with a new law which will be in affect in 2024. The personnel committee wanted to do vacation, but they went with personal days because they can’t be carried over year to year, and if someone quits, they don’t have to be paid out. Read More
•March 15, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
The Sullivan City Council approved an ordinance amending part of an ordinance concerning minors and parental responsibility regulations during Monday night’s meeting. Sullivan Police Chief Andy Pistorius explained that the ordinance is for the school resource officer and the police officers to help enforce underage drinking, truancy and other things. This will have the offenses kept within the city and will not go on criminal records and put a fine to offenses.
He stated there are students who are missing 15-30 days which are way too much for them to graduate. Mayor Richard Glazebrook feels students will have to suffer consequences for missing school. “It’s difficult for them to do their job in keeping these kids in school,” he said. Glazebrook said they are mirroring what Charleston has done, and they have had good outcomes from implementing a similar plan. Read More
Photo furnished
Natalee Hunter (second from left) received second place in the high school film division of the Holocaust Art and Writing Contest. She traveled to California with former teacher Rebecca Lawson (far left) and her parents Nathan (second from right) and Lee Hunter (far right).
•March 15, 2023•
Natalee Hunter, a senior at Sullivan High School, received a second place award in the high school film division of the Holocaust Art and Writing Contest on March 10 in Orange, California.
The contest, sponsored by Chapman University and The 1939 Society (an organization for Holocaust survivors, their friends, and families), had 241 registered schools from the U.S., Canada, Poland, Romania, South Korea, India, South Africa, Mexico, Ireland, Germany, and Philippines. After the awards ceremony Hunter and other students in attendance had the opportunity to meet Holocaust survivors and their family members.
“This experience has been incredible, and I want to encourage any other high school or middle school students to look into competing in competitions like this one. It opened up a lot of doors for me along with providing an experience like none other,” noted Hunter. Read More
•March 15, 2023•
The Sullivan American Legion will host a Grill Off on Saturday, April 15th. Judging will start at 5:30. $25 entry fee per team. The winning team will receive a trophy and the entry fee money. To participate contact Tina Bolsen 217-620-8185 or register at the Sullivan American Legion
•March 15, 2023•
The Moultrie County History Center will have their grand opening on Saturday, April 1 from 11 am to 4 pm. The musical highlight of the day will be the 33rd Illinois Volunteer Regiment band performance at 1 pm. They are re-enactors in Civil War period uniforms playing the instruments from the day. The new history center is located at 1303 S. Hamilton in Sullivan.
•March 15, 2023•
The 2nd Annual Easter Eggstravaganza will be held on Saturday, April 1 from 11 am to 1 pm at Courtyard Estates of Sullivan, 20 Courtyard Blvd. in Sullivan. Egg hunt will start promptly at 1 pm and there will be 10,000+ filled eggs. Bring your own Easter basket. The event will also include inflatables, petting zoo and pony rides, balloon animals, a dj, 50/50 raffle, various food trucks and more. There will also be a bike raffle for each age group. Ages 0-11 welcome.
•March 15, 2023•
“Flora and Fauna, 1963 to Present of Lake Shelbyville” will be presented by Brock Key, Natural Resources Specialist with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers at Lake Shelbyville at the March 16th meeting of the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogy Society. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the society’s new History Center at 1303 S. Hamilton in Sullivan. Many species and wildlife long absent from Moultrie County have been returning since the creation of Lake Shelbyville, Rare prairie plants are now protected and spreading at Cornflower Hill north of Bruce. The public is invited to attend and share stories of their discoveries of interesting wildlife and flora.